Billy Mills, 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist and Humanitarian: A Dream To Heal Broken Wings

It's a tremendous honor for me to share my podcast with Olympic legend and humanitarian, Billy Mills.

 Billy Mills was born in 1938 and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Oglala Lakota Nation.

Billy had a very difficult childhood, losing his mother, sister, and father by the age of 12.

He turned to running as both an escape and a source of discipline.

After his father's passing, Billy attended the Haskell Institute, a U.S. government run boarding school for Native American children.

Schools like Haskell were controversial for their forced assimilation, physical and emotional abuse, and systematically trying to erase their students Indigenous identities.

Billy, though, had a positive experience at Haskell, where he met his coach Tony Coffin, who became somewhat of a father figure to him. Coffin recognized Billy's talent and helped nurture his running abilities, providing him with the foundation that would later lead to his collegiate and Olympic success.

Also, during his time at Haskell, Billy spent one of his summers as a counselor at Camp Greylock in Beckett, Massachusetts, which is the summer camp that I went to many years later and is a very important part of my life. So it's very special for me to share this link with Billy.

At Haskell, Billy won multiple state championships in track and cross country, earning him a scholarship to the University of Kansas, where Billy would be coached by Bill Easton.

Easton was a highly respected track and field coach who led Kansas to multiple NCAA championships, and at Kansas, Billy was one of the best distance runners in the country. He was a three time All American, won multiple Big Eight titles, and was runner up in the 1960 cross country championships.

Through all of this, however, Billy faced numerous challenges, including discrimination at every level, including from Easton, hypoglycemia, and struggles with self doubt.

At times, Billy even contemplated suicide, and in his senior year, he walked off the track and quit the team completely.

Fortunately for Billy, the University of Kansas is also where he met and began dating a young woman named Patricia Pat Collins. Pat played a crucial role in Billy's journey, supporting him through the challenges he faced as an athlete and as a Native American navigating the world of elite sports.

After graduating Kansas, Billy married Pat, joined the U. S. Marine Corps, and resumed training with the goal of not just making the U. S. Olympic team and not just winning a medal, but winning the gold medal in the 10K.

Which he did. In 1964, Billy qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the 10, 000 meter race, where he stunned the world with a historic, come from behind victory, becoming the first and still the only American, or even the only person from the Western Hemisphere, to win the gold medal in the event.

He also remains the only Native American, other than Jim Thorpe, to win a gold medal in the Olympics.

His triumph is considered one of the greatest Olympic upsets and victories of all time.

Since Billy's victory in the 1964 Tokyo Games, Billy and Pat have dedicated their lives to giving back, co founding Running Strong for American Indian Youth, an organization that empowers Indigenous communities through health, education, and self sufficiency programs.

Their journey is one of perseverance, cultural pride, and spreading a message of unity through diversity.

All values that are very much at the heart of the Charity Miles community.

Which naturally, is why we want to also thank our partners at Brooks Running who are very much champions for these values as well.

For over a century, Brooks has been propelled by a never-ending curiosity with how humans move.

It drives their every decision and every innovation. Because they believe movement is the key to feeling more alive.

And we’re all moving towards something.

It could be the top of a mountain, a first-ever 5K,  peace of mind after a stressful day, or an Olympic gold medal. 

It could be a cure for Parkinson’s, a cleaner planet, fair play, or the strength that comes from our diversity.

So… let’s run there.

With gear and experiences specifically designed to take you to that place.

Whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line. Let’s run there.

Head to BrooksRunning.com to learn more.

Chapters:

00:00 - The Historic 1964 Olympic 10K Final

02:14 - Introducing Billy Mills: A Story of Resilience

06:12 - Billy’s Early Life on Pine Ridge Reservation

13:06 - The Impact of Haskell Indian School

24:16 - Overcoming Struggles in College and the Marines

32:24 - The Journey to the Tokyo Olympics

35:55 - The Epic 10,000-Meter Race

42:54 - Winning Gold: A Dream Fulfilled

50:26 - Giving Back: Running Strong for American Indian Youth

1:03:01 - The Secret to a 63-Year Marriage